Five more bodies recovered from Mountain Province landslide site

MOUNTAIN PROVINCE, Philippines — Search and rescue teams retrieved five more bodies at a landslide site in Natonin, Mountain Province on Sunday, bringing the number of dead to 16.

Only two of the five found Sunday have been identified, Natonin Mayor Mateo Chiyawan said.

The Provincial Risk Reduction and Management Office has so far identified the remains of Joel Arevalo, Gregorio Castro, Juanita Longan, Virginia Catet, Coyugan Catet, John Tenmacheg, Jerry Epan, Reymundo Ngilin, Benito Longan, Junjun Laron, Elberto Betco and Reynato Ayom.

READ: Mayor, cops argue: Rescue or retrieval?

Chiyawan said they are still looking for 13 more in the rubble and in nearby river systems. He said some of the people who were in the Department of Public Works and Highways building that was buried by the landslide last Tuesday may have been washed down the river.

At least 30 people had earlier been reported trapped in the DPWH building but 14 have been rescued from the site and 16 bodies have been found. Teams are still looking for 13 people who were reported missing.